Governor John Bel Edwards announces three new expansion projects for schools in the Louisiana Community and Technical College System that will provide more training and improve employment opportunities for thousands. The announcement was made in Alexandria. President of the LCTCS, Monty Sullivan, says that’s where the Central Louisiana Technical College is building a 50-thousand square foot facility…:
cut 4 (09) “recent memory”
New training centers are also going up at Baton Rouge Community College and Delgado Community College in New Orleans.

Students at Eden Park Elementary in Baton Rouge had a welcome surprise when New Orleans Saints Punter Thomas Morstead and First Lady Donna Edwards showed up to deliver 500 backpacks filled with school supplies following the historic flood….:
Cut 10 (10) “the flooding”

Louisiana Economic Development is offering a scholarship for new businesses to become licensed contractors in the state. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

LSU’s live tiger mascot will stay in his habitat during home games this season. Mike VI has never been forced to be part of pre-game events, and in light of his recent cancer diagnosis, officials will not attempt to load Mike into his trailer during the current football season.

After being put on hold during the budget crisis, three new expansions will begin at schools in the Louisiana Community and Technical College System that are focused on training people for the workforce. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

WAFB reports the wife of fallen Baton Rouge police officer Matthew Gerald is pregnant. Dechia Gerald told WAFB reporters she believes she conceived five days before her husband was killed in the ambush on Baton Rouge officers.

The state Office of Motor Vehicles is now offering customers the ability to cancel the license plate on their vehicle without having to visit an OMV office. Spokeswoman Staci Hoyt says right now most of the license plates being brought in for cancellation are for vehicles that were damaged in the flood.

Cut 13 (07) “get here”
Customers can visit the OMV website and enter the VIN, plate number and zip code of the registered owner of the vehicle to cancel the plate.

The Coast Guard and other agencies are responding to an oil spill off the coast of Bay Long, near Grand Isle. Petty Officer Lexie Preston says they are currently conducting cleanup operations from the 53 hundred gallon spill.

Cut 4 (07) “collection oil”
She says they are still investigating the spill.

The Legislative Auditor’s Office releases a report that highlights ways to reduce Louisiana’s incarceration rate, which is the highest in the world. Director of performance audits Karen LeBlanc says one of the things they’d like to see is nonviolent offenders with more probation and less jail time…:
CUT 7 (12) “state facility”
But Executive Director of the Louisiana District Attorney’s Office, Pete Adams, says these ideas are costly and letting criminals out on the street with probation could be dangerous…:
CUT 9 (12) “best move”
But Leblanc says the money the state saves from these reforms can be used to fund these proposed programs.

The Office of Motor Vehicles is giving drivers an option to cancel license plates online. Michelle Southern has more…
voicer 2 (29) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

The LSU vet school announces Mike the Tiger will stay in his habitat during home football games as he battles cancer. Coach Les Miles said his team is sick and miserable as a result of the loss to Wisconsin. Brandon Harris remains the starting quarterback, but offensive coordinator Cam Cameron will return to the press box to call plays. The Tigers host Jacksonville State on Saturday.

A new report from the Legislative Auditor’s Office highlights ways to reduce Louisiana’s incarceration rate. Karen LeBlanc with the Legislative Auditor’s Office says the state can save money by providing alternatives for people arrested on drug charges, like diversion and specialty courts.

CUT 6 (10) “a jail”

But Executive Director of the Louisiana District Attorney’s Office, Pete Adams, says they would rather see solutions that didn’t cost anything upfront.

The Office of Motor Vehicles is letting drivers cancel their license plates online. Deputy Commissioner Staci Hoyt hopes this will help the massive OMV wait times that have only increased after the flooding event. She says the office also has extended hours…

cut 15 (06) “4:30″

The Coast Guard and other agencies are responding to an oil spill off the coast of Bay Long, near Grand Isle. Petty Officer Lexie Preston says roughly 53-hundred gallons of crude oil leaked from a pipeline owned by Harvest Pipeline Company. She say it was struck by a vessel owned by Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company…

CUT 3 (08)  “leaking”

A new animal disaster relief shelter has opened in Amite. Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, Jeff Dorson says this new center is the base of operations for all the surrounding parishes. He says they’re trying to help reunite pets and livestock with their owners.

cut 10 (10)  “multiple weeks”

Dorson says at this site, they have 50 dogs and 20 cats in separate areas with air conditioning.

The Legislative Auditor’s Office has issued a report detailing how Louisiana can reduce its incarceration rate, which is higher than anywhere else in the world. Halen Doughty has more…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

According to the East Bank Consolidated Fire Department, a Jefferson Parish school bus carrying 34 children crashed into a canal along West Metaire Avenue this afternoon around 1:45. The students evacuated out of the back door of the bus and one suffered a minor injury.

The Office of Motor Vehicles is now allowing drivers to cancel their license plates online. Deputy Commissioner Staci Hoyt says anyone wishing to do so online must enter the vehicle’s VIN number, the plate number, and the ZIP code of the registered owner.
Cut 14 (08) “be canceled.”

Hoyt says office hours have also been extended this week until 6:30 p.m.

The Humane Society of Louisiana has opened a new animal disaster relief shelter in Amite. Executive Director Jeff Dorson says they originally partnered with the Livingston Government Animal Control during the initial flood recovery stage, but the Livingston Shelter needed to return to normal business. He says this Amite Arena is in a perfect location.
cut 12 (10) “incident center”

He hopes this new center will help reunite animals with their owners.

The Office of Motor Vehicles is giving drivers an option to cancel license plates online. Michelle Southern has more…
voicer 2 (29) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

The LSU Tigers have fallen 16 spots in the coaches poll which came out today. The Bayou Bengals went from sixth to 22nd as a result of their season opening loss to Wisconsin. Coach Les Miles said today that Brandon Harris remains the Tigers starting quarterback and the team can still achieve its goals of winning a championship.

The Coast Guard and several other agencies are cleaning up about 53-hundred gallons of crude oil that leaked from a pipeline near Bay Long, which is near Grand Isle. Petty Officer Lexie Preston says a vessel owned by Great Lakes Dredge and Dock company struck the pipeline and they’re still trying to determine how that occurred…
cut 5 (06) “…of yet”
Skimmers and absorbent material are being used to collect the oil and about three-thousand feel of hard boom have been deployed as well.

A new animal disaster relief shelter has opened in Amite. Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana Jeff Dorson says at this site, they have 50 dogs and 20 cats in separate areas with air conditioning. He says if you’ve lost your pet in the flooding, they could very well be at the new Amite location….
cut 11 (07) “….humane”

Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles is now offering customers the ability to cancel the license plate on their vehicle without having to visit an OMV office. Spokeswoman Staci Hoyt says right now most of the license plates being brought in for cancellation are for vehicles that were damaged in the flood…:
CUT 1 (09) “get here”
Customers can visit the OMV website and enter the VIN, plate number and zip code of the registered owner of the vehicle to cancel the plate.

The Coast Guard and other agencies are responding to an oil spill off the coast of Bay Long, near Grand Isle. Petty Officer Lexie Preston says they are currently conducting cleanup operations from the 53 hundred gallon spill…:
CUT 4 (07) “collection oil”
She says they are still investigating the spill.

The Legislative Auditor’s Office has released a report that highlights possible ways to reduce Louisiana’s incarceration rate, which is the highest in the world. Spokeswoman Karen LeBlanc says one of the things they’d like to see is nonviolent offenders with more probation and less jail time…:
CUT 7 (12) “state facility”
But Executive Director of the Louisiana District Attorney’s Office, Pete Adams, says these ideas are costly and letting criminals out on the street with probation could be dangerous to the public…:
CUT 9 (12) “best move”
But Leblanc says the money the state saves from these reforms can be used to fund these proposed programs.

The Legislative Auditor’s Office has issued a report detailing how Louisiana can reduce its incarceration rate, which is higher than anywhere else in the world. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The third phase of the disaster food stamp program began today as flood victims in nine more parishes can receive DSNAP benefits. Sammy Guillory, with the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, says if you lost food or income as a result of the floods and do NOT receive regular food stamps, you could be eligible…:
Cut 1 (05) “by the floods”

A new animal disaster relief shelter has opened in Amite and serving surrounding Parishes. Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana Jeff Dorson says the key reason they opened this shelter is to help reunite pets and livestock with their owners…:
cut 10 (10) “multiple weeks”
He says if you’ve lost your pet in one of the 16 impacted parishes, they could very well be at the new Amite location.

The Coast Guard and other agencies responded to an oil discharge near Bay Long in Plaqumines Parish, where it’s estimated approximately 5,300 gallons of crude oil leaked from a pipeline. They say the pipeline, which is now secure, was hit by a large boat that was conducting excavation operations.

The Legislative Auditor’s Office has released a report highlights possible ways to reduce Louisiana’s incarceration rate, which is the highest in the world. Karen LeBlanc with the Legislative Auditor’s Office says they looked at everything from pre- to post-incarceration. She says the state can save money by providing alternatives like diversion and specialty courts for people arrested on drug charges…:
CUT 6 (10) “a jail”
Executive Director of the Louisiana District Attorney’s Office, Pete Adams, says they would rather see solutions that didn’t cost anything and only had savings. He says they like the idea of drug courts, but they cost money. He says it takes a dedicated team for drug courts to be successful…:
CUT 8 (09) “work right”

The American Red Cross is providing limited financial aid and casework for people affected by the flooding. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Coast Guard and other agencies are responding to an oil spill off the coast of Bay Long, near Grand Isle. Petty Officer Lexie Preston says roughly 53-hundred gallons of crude oil leaked from a pipeline owned by Harvest Pipeline Company. She say it was struck by a vessel owned by Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company…:
CUT 3 (08) “leaking”
Preston says aircrews have conducted aerial assessments of the spill.

The Department of Children and Family Services issued over $44 million in disaster food benefits to nearly 110,000 households in the first two weeks of operations. They open nine additional parishes today. DCFS Deputy Secretary Sammy Guillory says if you were denied food stamps you can appeal…:
CUT 12 (07) “by a supervisor”
You can pre-register online at dcfs.la.gov.

The American Red Cross says they are offering limited cash assistance to flood victims. Red Cross spokesperson Anthony Tornetta….
cut 6 (10) “…considered damage”
The cash assistance is anywhere between 125 to 500 dollars and you can register at red-cross-dot-org-slash-la-flood-assistance.

The discussion about getting more aid to flood victims begins on the federal level today when Congress reconvenes for the fall session. Governor John Bel Edwards wants a two-billion dollar package that will cover housing, economic development and infrastructure repairs. Republican US Senator Bill Cassidy is optimistic Congress will help…:
CUT 7 (08) “pretty generous”
He says 49 parishes have been declared disaster areas this year as a result of flooding.

Fork Polk is looking to give a new home for 750 horses that currently roam and graze at the military base in Vernon Parish. Base spokesperson Troy Darr says the horses have become a safety issue for the soldiers who conduct training missions…
cut 15 (08) “….themselves”
Darr says so far they’ve had a great response from animal welfare groups.